“Baby Buns” Update: Family Says Miracle Baby Is Doing “Wonderful”

Little Kaleb is now four months old and has even grown out of his preemie clothes.

Remember Arkell and Dana Griffin-Graves, the family that touched America’s hearts when they announced they were expecting after a 17-year struggle to conceive?

Griffin-Graves, who was shocked to learn she was five-months pregnant in October, surprised her husband in a now-viral video called “buns in the oven.” Shortly after the video announcement, the mom gave birth to Kaleb Arkell Graves at 24 weeks, adding to their family (the couple previously adopted a son, Keelyn).

But this week, the Griffin-Graves gave an update on their early baby, posting a picture to their Facebook page to announce that Kaleb is doing wonderful and is only one ounce away from weighing six pounds.

“We are still struggling with his breathing,” his mom said. The baby has chronic lung disease, a condition that is common in premature babies. He recently graduated to noninvasive ventilator support, his mom said.

“It’s just going to take time,” Griffin-Graves said of her son eventually breathing on his own. Kaleb also recently had surgery to repair a hole in his heart.

Griffin-Graves told the outlet that having a baby in the NICU can be an isolating experience, but she has gathered support and strength from the community and by engaging with other mothers who gave birth to premature babies via Facebook. She often reads messages of encouragement from the page to Kaleb, the site notes.

She’s received so much support and so many items for baby Kaleb that she’s started making baskets for other families in the hospital. Via Buzzfeed:

She said her next goal is to make baskets to deliver to other hospitals in the area. “I just think there is a need,” she said.

You can check up on baby Kaleb’s progress here. We wish the family the best.